Trinity Church revives redevelopment proposal in Geneva

As promised, Trinity Episcopal Church’s proposal to redevelop its historic South Main Street church into an events center, restaurant and inn is heading back to the city for review.

An informational presentation on the church’s proposal is on the city Zoning Board of Appeals meeting agenda for Tuesday. It starts at 7 p.m.

Neal Braman, the city’s director of development services, said the session is informational only and is not a public hearing. Trinity Pastor Cam Miller said he hopes to have a public hearing on its application at the ZBA’s January meeting.

In September, the ZBA voted unanimously to rescind its previous approval of a use variance for Trinity that would have allowed it to redevelop the property. The cash-strapped church is proposing the project as a way to improve its finances and ensure the building’s future.

ZBA’s decision in September to rescind its prior approval came just days before a date in state Supreme Court in Ontario County, where a group of South Main Street neighbors sued to have the decision overturned.

City Attorney Emil Bove said after the ZBA rescinded its approval of Trinity’s use variance that there were “technical issues we found (that) might be challenging.” In particular, the ZBA cited in the resolution rescinding the use-variance application that the decision by the body “was issued without jurisdiction.”